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Roman
Church with Cemetary
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 We start our Pilgrimage
walk in Espalion, near Rodez. This is on the GR-65 trail that starts in
Le Puy. |
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Eglise
de Perse
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 Romanesque church
dedicated to Charlemagne's confessor. (11th and 12th Century)
Note the flat belfry typical of this area of France |
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Eglise
de Perse
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 Tympanum of the main
entry to the church.
Last judgement and pentecost. Note three kings in upper left. |
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Vieux
Palais on the hill above Espalion
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 View from the church
toward the old palace on the hill above Espalion (1572) |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 Path to the next town is
marked by the red and while paint. This is found on rocks, posts and
trees when there is a choice to be made. |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 Stile over the stone wall |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 We climb for awhile and
we get a better view of the old palace. |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 Typical views of the
beautiful countryside. Lots of old houses and outbuildings still around. |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 We make it down the other
side of the hill to the Lot River again, showing the canoing family. |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 A modern-day reststop for
the weary pilgrims, with the next town in the background. |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 The trail is well-marked
leaving from this town. |
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Chemin
de St. Jacques
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 St-Côme-d'Olt is our
destination. Note the crooked spire on the main church. Also we have
the one-lane bridge over the Lot river. |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 The cross on the bridge,
rocks on the base of the cross. |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 View up the narrow
streets to the church (1522) |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 Hotel de Ville (11th
century) was a Chateau, and it is getting restored with a new slate
roof. This is next to the Church |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 The scallop shell symbol
of the Way of St. James (to Santiago del Compostela). This is at the
entrance to the pilgrimage church. |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 Towns along the way have
this UNESCO recognition. |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 The town with Ramona this
time as we head back to the car, retracing our steps over the hill to
Espalion. |
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St-Côme-d'Olt
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 This elderly man is
digging up potatoes as we walk by. He was out here working for several
hours in the middle of the day. |
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Chemin-de-St.-Jacques
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 A shrine dedicated to Ave
Maria called the Virgin of Vermus. This is located at the top of the
hill on a rock out-cropping. It can be seen from miles around from most
directions. |
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Chemin-de-St.-Jacques
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 A view down the Lot from
the Shrine. |
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Chemin-de-St.-Jacques
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 A sign directing me to
the shrine. |
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Vierge
de Vermus
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 View from the Shrine
starting from the right - Northwest. |
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Panaorama
continued
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 continuing around to the
East. |
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